Furthermore, it seems clear enough to me that the New Testament ideal for churches is that they be multi-generational, multi-ethnic, and presumably multifaceted with regard to the cultural trappings of the things that they did in common.
So it grieves me to notice a trajectory in this day and time (speaking of the general movement of our denomination, and not singling out any one person) toward what I regard as the opposite position regarding division in the body of Christ:
- From where I sit, it appears that people become less and less willing to take theological stands when doing so risks division in the body of Christ. Thus, theology is on the decline as a cause that can warrant division in the body of Christ, although it is a legitimate scriptural cause for such.
- Don't get me started on the abandonment of church discipline in the Southern Baptist Convention. Much of why we are where we are is a fear on the part of churches that effective church discipline will be unpopular or divisive, I believe.
- The quest for a "homogeneous unit."
- What kind of radio station people listen to and what style of music they want to sing in church.
- Whether the church ought to relocate or stay where it is.
- Attempts to facilitate change to the newest ministerial fad.
- Petty personal differences.
- Age.
- Race.
- I stop here not because I am out of things to list, but because I don't know that I would ever run out of things to list.
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